Pleasant Valley's win not a surprise to participants

In their whitewashing of Lehighton, the Bears opened some eyes and ruined the Indians' perfect season.

October 25, 2002|By Ted Meixell Of The Morning Call

A whole lot of football folks were stunned by Pleasant Valley's 20-0 romp over previously unbeaten Lehighton last Friday.

But Lehighton coach Bill Brong wasn't among them -- and neither was Bears boss Neil Dangello.

Two weeks earlier, in discussing his team's impending clash with East Stroudsburg South -- which the Indians won, 16-13 -- Brong denied that the game was for all the Mountain Valley Conference marbles, saying, "I don't like to say that because I really do think Pleasant Valley is pretty good, too."

Unfortunately for Brong and the Indians, he knew whereof he spoke.

"I knew we had it in us all year," Dangello said a few days after the Bears had thrown the MVC race into a scramble that appears likely to produce a three-way title tie. We had hoped to [win] two or three of the first six, but we had a really tough non-conference schedule.

"We didn't show up in the first half against [East Stroudsburg] South and Blue Mountain. We had minus-2 yards of offense in the first half against South and trailed 14-0. The second half we came back and matched their stats, but we lost 14-12.

"We were down 21-0 at the half to Blue Mountain. Then we outplayed them in the second half [before losing 28-14]. The only game we weren't in at all was Freedom. Friday night, we finally put four quarters together."

There is no mystery why the Bears' offense has been vastly more potent the last two weeks. Talented halfback Marlon Pitts came off the DL.

"Marlon broke his ankle the first week of practice and missed the first four games," Dangello said. "Then he tried to come back too soon. But he ran for 150 yards against Pocono Mountain West and 151 against Lehighton. And another kid, [halfback] Mike Economy, has been solid all year. He ran like a man Friday; he just ran over people. As a team, we've rushed for more than 400 yards the last two weeks."

A young offensive line that's begun to jell shared the spotlight. It features standout tight end Jesse Borden, tackles Eric Murphy and Steve Lackey, guards Mike Nicholas and Gilbert Ortiz and center Brian Bock.

But the big question is how did the Bears manage to shut out Lehighton's potent offense, one that features a great cast of skill position players?

Dangello reduced that one to basics, too.

"The tackles [Murphy and Lackey] got a great push up the middle, the ends [Nicholas and Ortiz] kept contain on their quarterback's [Dave Frehulfer] speed, the linebackers [Borden, Scott Olson and Tim Bremen] flew around all night and the secondary covered," he said.

"We rearranged the secondary and it worked out well. We moved Anthony Wood from safety to cornerback and put Andrew Margelot at safety. We put Wood on their good receiver, No. 88 [Chris Steigerwalt], and he caught only one ball all night."

P.V. doesn't have an MVC game tonight; it travels to Nazareth for a non-leaguer. It returns to the MVC wars Nov. 1 at Pocono Mountain East in the clash for The Old Oaken Bucket, then finishes at home Nov. 8 with East Stroudsburg North.

"We challenged the kids after the loss to South," Dangello said. "We said we had five goals left to win each game as it comes. They've done it two games in a row, and, if they continue to play four quarters, we have the ability to do it three more times. If we do, things like a share of the title take care of themselves.

"But first we want to take care of business at Nazareth. To go down there and win would be a great win for us."

E.S. SOUTH (4-4, 3-1)

AT POC. MTN. EAST (2-6, 2-2)

When: 7 tonight.

Last meeting: ESS won 35-0 Oct. 19, 2001.

What to look for: A whole new ballgame for the Cavaliers, who, because of P.V.'s stunner over Lehighton last week, now have shot at a share of the MVC crown. Ergo, a letdown vs. the Cards is unlikely. South's 17-3 win over Nazareth last week, coupled with the Blue Eagles' 27-7 victory over East three weeks back, suggest a Cavalier victory. But East should also be buoyed by its 16-0 whitewash of Stroudsburg. The Call goes to South in a competitive joust.

POC. MTN. WEST (0-8, 0-5)

AT LEHIGHTON (7-1, 4-1)

When: 7 tonight.

Last meeting: First meeting.

What to look for: An angry tribe. Having seen their dreams of an outright MVC crown and an unbeaten season fall in a 20-0 loss at Pleasant Valley, the Indians will take out their frustrations on the winless Panthers, whose varsity football schooling will continue. The Panthers will win in the future but not this year.

STROUDSBURG (1-7, 1-3)

AT E.S. NORTH (2-6, 2-2)

When: 7 tonight.

Last meeting: First meeting.

What to look for: Before the season, picking the Mountaineers would have been automatic. Not now. The Timberwolves have been competitive all season and have consistently exhibited more offensive firepower (16.4 ppg) than the Mounties (just 6.4). The defenses seem to be a wash; North has surrendered 199 points in eight games, Stroudsburg 198. North in a close one.